MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION - Annual Report for 1998 



"Contingency Plan for Catastrophic Manatee Rescue 

 and Mortality Events" to correspond with the detail 

 contained in the state plan (see also the manatee 

 discussion in Chapter II). 



The Commission recognizes the global nature of 

 unusual mortality events and the growing need for 

 international cooperation for contingency plaiming and 

 scientific investigation. A Commission representative 

 attended the Workshop on Antarctic Diseases in 

 Hobart, Tasmania, in August 1998 to discuss risks of 

 die-offs and assist the Australian Antarctic Division 

 with preliminary steps to develop contingency plans 

 for environmental disasters in the Southern Ocean. 



Development of Release Criteria 



For marine mammals that strand because they are 

 sick, returning them to the wild before they are fully 

 recovered could risk transmitting disease-causing 

 organisms to healthy animals. Further, such prema- 

 ture returns could lead to an animal's death from 

 starvation or injury if it is not sufficiently healthy to 

 capture prey, avoid predators, or defend itself from 

 other animals. Animals that have been maintained in 

 captivity for relatively long periods of time could face 

 similar problems if they are not healthy or have not 

 been properly conditioned to survive in the wild. 



Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 

 directs the Secretary of Commerce to develop objec- 

 tive criteria for use in determining the point at which 

 a rehabilitated marine mammal can be released to the 

 wild. In doing so, the Secretary is directed to consult 



with the Secretary of the Interior, the Marine Mam- 

 mal Commission, and individuals with knowledge and 

 experience in marine science, marine mammal sci- 

 ence, marine mammal veterinary and husbandry 

 practices, and marine conservation, including strand- 

 ing network participants. An opportunity for public 

 review and comment on die proposed criteria will be 

 provided. 



Recognizing the importance of this issue, the 

 Marine Mammal Commission and the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service jointly sponsored a workshop in 

 December 1991 to obtain expert advice on rescue, 

 rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mam- 

 mals. The workshop participants included representa- 

 tives of public display facilities and marine mammal 

 rehabilitation centers, state and federal agencies with 

 jurisdiction over marine mammals and marine mam- 

 mal display and rehabilitation facilities, and scientists 

 with related expertise. The workshop report, "Res- 

 cue, Rehabilitation, and Release of Marine Mammals: 

 An Analysis of Current Views and Practices," was 

 published by the National Marine Fisheries Service in 

 July 1996 (see Appendix C, St. Aubin et al. 1996). 



The Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event 

 Working Group has been charged with developing 

 criteria for determining when it is appropriate to 

 return stranded marine mammals to the wild. Possible 

 criteria were discussed at the working group's meet- 

 ings in 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. A preliminary 

 draft paper setting forth possible release standards was 

 provided to the working group for review and com- 

 ment in May 1996. The document is scheduled for 

 completion in 1999. 



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